PM could call general election if Parliament votes down start of Brexit talks, warns Jeremy Hunt

Theresa May could call a general election if MPs and peers vote down legislation to trigger the start of Brexit talks, a Cabinet minister has suggested.

Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, strongly hinted that the Prime Minister would have to call an election if Parliament blocks the start of talks.

Mr Hunt also warned that any attempt to force the Government to reveal its negotiating hand for Brexit would damage the economy.

Last week, the High Court ruled that the Government does not have the power to trigger Article 50, the formal notification of Britain's intention to leave the bloc, without the approval of Parliament.

Government ministers are privately expecting that they will lose an appeal to the Supreme Court, which is due to be heard next month.

Speaking on BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show, Mr Hunt raised the stakes by suggesting that if MPs or peers obstruct the triggering of Article 50, a general election could be called.

Watch | May: Government 'getting on with Brexit'

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He said: “A general election is frankly the last thing that the Government wants ... it is the last thing that the British people want with all these very, very important national decisions and, because of that, I think it is highly unlikely that Parliament will not in the end back a decision to trigger Article 50.”

On the risks of setting out the UK’s negotiating strategy in Parliament before Brexit talks begin, he added: “The impact on the economy will be far worse if, through some parliamentary mechanisms, Theresa May is forced to lay out her entire negotiating strategy.”

Mr Hunt defended the right of newspapers to criticise the judges behind the High Court ruling that ordered Mrs May to seek approval from Parliament over triggering Article 50.

Mr Hunt said: "There are plenty of times when I haven't liked the tone of the Daily Mail, there are plenty of times I don't like the tone of the BBC, but that is democracy.

"I would defend to the hilt the right of newspapers within the law to write what they like and to criticise politicians."

Mr Hunt’s comments come after Jeremy Corbyn appeared to suggest in an interview with a Sunday newspaper that he would block plans to trigger Article 50 if the Prime Minister did not guarantee access to the single market.